Blue Eye Trevalla
One of the most sought-after deep-water fish off the NSW coast, the blue eye trevalla lives on the deep offshore reefs and canyons and comes up on serious deep-drop tackle. It is a genuine reward for the effort, rich, firm-fleshed and superb on the plate.
About the blue eye trevalla
Blue eye trevalla, also known as blue eyed cod, are a deep-water fish named for their large, striking blue eyes. They live down on the deep offshore reefs, ledges and canyons off the continental shelf, often in several hundred metres of water, and school around that structure in the cold and the dark.
Because they live so deep, they are a specialist deep-drop target for the wider offshore trips, not a fish you bump into on the inshore reefs. Getting one to the surface takes heavy tackle and patience, but their rich, firm flesh is prized in kitchens across the country, which makes them one of the great eating rewards of deep-water fishing.
Blue Eye Trevalla at a glance
| Name | Blue Eye Trevalla |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Blue Eyed Cod |
| Scientific name | Hyperoglyphe antarctica |
| Best season in NSW | Year-round |
| Habitat | Deep offshore |
| Where found in NSW | NSW offshore |
| Size and bag limits | No min, bag 5 |
| Average size | 50–100cm |
| Max size | 1.2m |
| Fishing method | Deep drop |
| Best bait / lure | Bait |
| Difficulty | Hard |
| Eating quality | Excellent |
| Taste | Rich firm |
| Recipe ideas | Grilled |
Deep dropping the offshore canyons
Blue eye come from deep water, so it is heavy gear, big baits and knowing exactly where to send them down.
The proven methods
This is deep-drop fishing, sending a heavily weighted multi-hook rig with fresh baits down onto the deep reefs, ledges and canyon edges where blue eye school. It takes plenty of lead to hold bottom in the depth and current, and the retrieve is a long, heavy grind, so electric reels do a lot of the work. Get the baits into the right pocket of structure and you can load up on a school of quality fish. All the gear is on board and ready to go.
How Wahoo puts you on them
The whole game is finding the deep structure that holds blue eye and picking the day to fish it. George Aslanian has spent more than 30 years working the offshore country off Sydney and knows the deep reefs and drop-offs where these fish live. We choose the right weather window, rig you with the heavy deep-drop gear, and put your baits down onto the fish. Ready to go? Book a dedicated Sydney deep sea charter.
Other Reef & offshore fish
Hapuka
Hapuka (Polyprion oxygeneios): a giant of the deep NSW reefs. Season, size, bag limits, deep-drop methods and eating quality, plus how to catch them off Sydney.
Morwong
Jackass Morwong (Nemadactylus macropterus): a reliable NSW reef fish. Season, size, bag limits, methods and eating quality, plus how to catch them off Sydney.
Snapper
Snapper (Pagrus auratus): Sydney's classic reef fish. Season, size, bag limits, methods and eating quality, plus how to catch them on the reefs off Sydney.
Tiger Flathead
Tiger Flathead (Platycephalus richardsoni): an offshore NSW flathead. Season, size, bag limits, drift-fishing methods and eating quality, plus how to catch them off Sydney.
Chase a deep-water trophy?
Tell us your dates and crew and we will find the right weather window to deep drop for blue eye off Sydney, all gear supplied. Browse the full species guide, or explore our deep sea and reef charters.